Bidens plant named ‘TMBI 1105’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Bidens  named ‘TMBI 1105’ is disclosed and is distinguishable by prostrate and naturally branching plant habit and numerous bicolored flowers whose centers are yellow and whose outer corolla is cream, and which are produced from spring until the onset of frost.

Genus and species: Bidens ferulifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘TMBI 1105’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(f) toEuropean Community Plant Variety Rights application filed on Nov. 17,2014, Application Number 2014/2964.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Bidens,a tender perennial plant which is grown for use in planted containers,hanging baskets and as an ornamental landscape plant. The new variety isknown botanically as Bidens ferulifolia and will be referred tohereinafter by the variety name ‘TMBI 1105’. Bidens is in the familyAsteraceae whose flowers are inflorescences comprised of ray florets anddisc florets. The ray florets themselves have the appearance of petals.

‘TMBI 1105’ is the result of a breeding program commenced in 2008 withthe objective of developing unique bicolor forms of Bidens with eitherwhite or yellow elements. The breeding program commenced with adeliberate cross between Bidens ferulifolia ‘Lemon Stars’ (unpatented)as the female parent, and Bidens ferulifolia ‘Pirate's Talisman’(unpatented) as the male parent. The inventor selected the mostpromising seedling, known to the inventor as selection code ‘BI08106’,for self-pollination. The inventor selected from the self-pollinatedprogeny of ‘BI08106’ one further seedling, known to the inventor as‘BI09051’ which the inventor planted in the field as a potential femaleparent for open pollination by unnamed and unreleased selections for themale parent, each showing a bicolor characteristic and a more compacthabit. The inventor collected seeds and raised seedlings from theopen-pollinated female parent ‘BI09051’. The raised seedlings wereplanted in the field in spring 2011 for continuous evaluation throughspring and into summer 2011. In August 2011, the inventor selected oneseedling, the present invention ‘TMBI 1105’, on the basis of itsprostrate and naturally branching plant habit and numerous bicoloredflowers whose centers are yellow and whose outer corolla is cream. Thefemale parent of ‘TMBI 1105’ is the inventor's selection ‘BI09051’. Themale parent of ‘TMBI 1105’ is unknown.

‘TMBI 1105’ was first asexually propagated in August 2011 in an unheatedgreenhouse at the inventors nursery in Ipswich, Suffolk, United Kingdom.The method used for asexual propagation was direct rooting of tipcuttings. No hormone or rooting aid was employed. Subsequent asexualpropagations have been carried out using tip cuttings and using stemcuttings. The inventor has determined that ‘TMBI 1105’ is stable andreproduces true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction by either method of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of ‘TMBI 1105’. ‘TMBI 1105’ has not beentested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may beobserved with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, without however, any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘TMBI 1105’ exhibits a compact and naturally branching plant        habit;    -   2. ‘TMBI 1105’ produces terminal inflorescences on each stem and        lateral branch;    -   3. The ray flowers of ‘TMBI 1105’ are bicolored yellow and        cream;    -   4. The yellow basal segments of each petal of ‘TMBI 1105’        together form a yellow eye which contrasts with the cream        corolla formed by the cream tips of each petal;    -   5. The disc florets of ‘TMBI 1105’ are orange-red in color when        the inflorescence is fully expanded;    -   6. ‘TMBI 1105’ blooms continually from spring until late fall;    -   7. After one year's growth in a one gallon container, ‘TMBI        1105’ is 15 cm in height and 35 cm in width;    -   8. As a mature plant in a frost-free landscape, ‘TMBI 1105’        achieves 20 cm in height and 45 cm in width; and    -   9. ‘TMBI 1105’ is hardy to USDA Zone 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new Bidens cultivar ‘TMBI 1105’ showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which more accurately describes theactual colors of the new variety ‘TMBI 1105’.

FIG. 1 depicts a whole plant of ‘TMBI 1105’ in bud and flower. Theillustrated plant has been grown in a frost-free greenhouse in Ipswich,Suffolk, United Kingdom. The illustrated plant is approximately sevenmonths old and is growing in a 25 cm diameter container without anypinching or chemical growth regulator. The photograph was taken inSeptember 2014.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the buds and fully expandedinflorescences of ‘TMBI 1105’. The photograph has been made from aclose-up view of the plant illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘TMBI 1105’. Observations, measurements, values, andcomparisons were collected in April 2015 in Santa Barbara, Calif. from afifteen month old plant grown outdoors in full sun in a 1 galloncontainer. Color determinations were made in accordance with The 2007Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart from London England, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Genus.—Bidens.        -   Species.—ferulifolia.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—B. ferulifolia ‘BI09051’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Unknown B. ferulifolia (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation method.—Tip cuttings and stem cuttings.        -   Root system.—Fine and fibrous.        -   Vigor.—Moderate vigor.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 14 days are            needed to develop roots on initial cuttings.        -   Temperatures to initiate rooting.—The recommended air            temperature is 20° to 21° Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—Approximately 10 weeks to 2 months are needed to            produce a finished 15 cm container plant from a rooted            cutting.        -   Growth habit.—Prostrate and naturally freely branching.        -   Suggested container size.—From 10 cm to 18 cm in diameter.        -   Use.—Ornamental for use in containers, hanging baskets and            as a landscape plant singly or in combination with other            plants.        -   Type.—Tender perennial.        -   Plant dimensions.—After one year's growth in a 1 gallon            container, 15 cm in height and 35 cm in width.        -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun with moderate water,            and well-draining soil.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 9.        -   Growing requirements.—‘TMBI 1105’ may be started as a            cutting during December or January and will flower from            spring until the onset of frost.-   Stems:    -   -   Stem shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Stem length.—9 cm to 12 cm.        -   Stem diameter.—5 mm.        -   Stem surface.—Markedly villous with dense coverage of very            fine silvery hairs, approximately 2 mm in length.        -   Stem color.—144C.        -   Internode length.—Average internode length is 15 mm to 18            mm.-   Branches:    -   -   Branching habit.—Naturally occurring (unpinched) basal            branches with lateral branches.        -   Basal branches.—Number: 6 to 8. Dimensions: 25 cm in length            and 0.35 cm in diameter. Shape: Cylindrical. Surface:            Densely pubescent. Hairs fine, silver-gray, length            approximately 1 mm. Color: Light green 145B where not            exposed to sunlight. Exposed stems exhibit red-brown            streaks, color 181A. Internode length: Varies between 1.3 cm            and 3.5 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Number: 2 to 3 laterals arise from nodes            along basal stems. Dimensions: 5.0 cm to 5.5 cm in length            and 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm in diameter. Shape: Cylindrical.            Surface: Sparsely pubescent; hairs fine, silver-gray, length            less than 0.5 mm. Internode length: 1.5 cm to 1.8 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   General description.—Densely crispate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Type.—Ternately compound. Each leaf consists of three            trilobed leaflets.        -   Leaf length.—1.5 cm.        -   Leaf width.—1.7 cm.        -   Leaf apex (lobe apices).—Acute.        -   Leaf base.—Hastate.        -   Leaf margins.—Smooth, entire.        -   Leaf surface (adaxial surface).—Glossy, glabrous.        -   Leaf surface (abaxial surface).—Matte, glabrous.        -   Leaf color (adaxial surface).—Dark green, between 141B and            141C.        -   Leaf color (abaxial surface).—138A.        -   Lobes.—Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Lobes are basally            fused. Dimensions: 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm in length and width.            Lobe margins: Smooth, entire. Lobe surface: Adaxial surface            glossy, glabrous; abaxial surface matte, glabrous. Lobe            color: Adaxial surface dark green, between 141B and 141C;            abaxial surface 138A.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole shape.—Sulcate.        -   Petiole dimensions.—6 mm in length and 1 mm in width.        -   Petiole color.—138A.        -   Venation.—None visible except leaf and leaflet appears            gently folded at midrib.        -   Fragrance.—A slight sage-like scent when bruised.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Solitary.        -   Aspect.—Facing upward.        -   Dimensions of inflorescence (fully expanded).—4 mm in            diameter and 1.5 cm in height.        -   Type, shape.—Radiate capitate with center disc.        -   Flowering season.—From spring until first frost.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self-cleaning.        -   Disc diameter (inflorescence fully expanded).—7 mm to 8 mm.        -   Inflorescence number per plant.—A one-year old plant bears            approximately 125 inflorescences in bud and flower at one            time.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—7 days.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—2.0 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—3 mm.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Texture.—Surface is pubescent and exhibits longitudinal            ridges.        -   Strength.—Very stiff and strong.        -   Color.—138C.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Surface.—Villous.        -   Height.—1.50 cm.        -   Diameter.—3 cm.        -   Shape.—Closest to rotate whorl.        -   Color.—138B.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Surface (both surfaces).—Glabrous, adaxial surface appears            glossy.        -   Arrangement.—Radiate.        -   Number per inflorescence.—7 or 8 ray florets, appearing as            petals, per inflorescence.        -   Fused or unfused.—Ray florets are unfused.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Ray floret dimensions.—20 mm in length including the short            corolla tube, 10 mm in width at the widest point, mid-way            along length.        -   Corolla tube dimensions.—1.5 mm to 2 mm in length, 1 mm in            diameter.        -   Color.—Each ray floret is bicolored with clear change in            color halfway between apex and base and extending linearly            across the leaf. When the inflorescence is fully expanded,            the two colors of the ray florets are deep yellow (towards            the base) and cream (towards the apex). When the            inflorescence is freshly opened, the two colors are deep            yellow and mid yellow.        -   Ray floret color (expanded, adaxial surface).—Basal half,            14A; apical half, ranges between 13D and 158D.        -   Ray floret color (expanded, abaxial surface).—Basal half            14C, apical half 12D.        -   Ray floret color (freshly opened, adaxial surface).—Basal            half 14A, apical half 14C.        -   Ray floret color (freshly opened, abaxial surface).—Basal            half 14C, apical half 13D.        -   Ray floret venation.—No veins present. Floret exhibits            longitudinal raised ribs (adaxial surface) and depressions            (abaxial surface).        -   Phyllaries.—Present in two concentric rings. Inner ring            adnate to ray floret, 1 phyllary per floret; outer ring, 8            phyllaries held approximately 1 mm below inner phyllaries.        -   Phyllary shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Phyllary dimensions.—5 mm in length, 1 mm in width.        -   Phyllary color.—Inner phyllaries mid green 141C; outer            phyllaries green-white 157D, translucent.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Numerous, approximately 80 to            100.        -   Disc floret dimensions.—8 mm to 10 mm in length and 1.0 mm            to 1.5 mm in width.        -   Corolla tube.—Appears as fused tube, unable to determine            sepal component.        -   Depth of disc floret corolla tube.—4 mm.        -   Color of disc florets (inflorescence newly opening, both            surfaces).—17C.        -   Color of disc florets (inflorescence fully expanded, both            surfaces).—N34A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity, shape: Indeterminate. Color (as corolla            tube): 157D, translucent.        -   Phyllaries.—Not observed on disc florets.-   Reproductive organs (present on disc florets only):    -   -   Stamens.—Appear to be fused but incapable of describing            individually.        -   Anthers.—Malformed, black, 1 mm in length, 0.5 mm in width.        -   Pollen.—Absent.        -   Pistil.—Style: Cylindrical, 10 mm in length including            exserted stigma. Stigma: Shape, dimensions: Bifid,            decurrent, each branch approximately 2 mm in length and 0.5            mm in width. Color: 23A. Ovary: Not observed.-   Fruit/seed set: Not observed.-   Disease and pest susceptibility: ‘TMBI 1105’ has not been observed    to exhibit any resistance to any particular pest or disease. ‘TMBI    1105’ is susceptible to thrips on its flowers as may be typical of    Bidens.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘TMBI 1105’ has a more compact habit than its female parent, ‘BI09051’.In comparison with the female parent, the inflorescence of ‘TMBI 1105’is distinctly bicolored with a yellow eye and cream corolla. The femaleparent has single flowers consisting of 5 petals, whereas ‘TMBI 1105’has semi double flowers consisting of 7 to 8 petals.

The closest comparison plant known to the inventor is Bidens ferulifoliaplant named ‘Golden Eye’, also known as KLEBF10709 (U.S. Plant Pat. No.22,863). Whereas the flowers of ‘Golden Eye’ consist of 6 or 7 petals,the flowers of ‘TMBI 1105’ consist of 7 or 8 petals. In addition, theflowers of ‘TMBI 1105’ are more distinctly bicolored and the plant habitof ‘TMBI 1105’ is more compact than ‘Golden Eye’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Bidens plant named ‘TMBI1105’ as described and shown herein.